New York’s Museum of Natural History
Sometime in the 1940s New York’s Museum of Natural History created a living room space–from the perspective of a small dog. Table legs rose like tall pillars, chair seats hovered overhead, and the mantel of the fireplace loomed higher still.
Now any human museum-goer would instantly know this was an unrealistic representation from our point of view. But if we were all Shih Tzus, we’d bark to one another how accurately the decorator had appointed the room.
Which view of the museum display is correct—that of people or Shi Tzus? Our instinctive response is: the way it appears to us as humans is the accurate view.
And we think, The poor little pups—living their whole lives with the illusion that furniture is almost always gigantic.
No doubt that museum space provided plenty of entertainment. But perhaps an important lesson was hiding among the over-sized furniture and features.
What if we compared Planet Earth to that room? Then we are the small creatures gazing upwards—at towering mountains, high plateaus, and tall waterfalls.
Angel Falls in Venezuela, 3,212 feet tall
Oh, but our view must be expanded further—far beyond Mount Everest even.
We must consider what Planet Earth looks like to God, who made the numerous planets, spinning in billions of galaxies. On a map of the stars, our tiny planet isn’t even represented.
Yet it’s so easy to lose sight of this reality. Our sphere of contacts–family, friends, and coworkers –becomes our entire world.
The pursuit of happiness within this microcosm becomes our whole focus, fed by the illusion that living life “my way” is the ticket to happiness and satisfaction.
Then there’s God’s point of view, as taught by Jesus:
Which view of reality is accurate–our view or that of our sovereign Maker (who sees, understands and controls everything)?
Logic supports the latter. The real world-view is God’s view.
And if we’re ready to accept that reality, then we must also agree it makes sense to follow his instruction manual, the Bible, for living in the world he created.
My self-serving, egocentric side says, Wait a minute. I have my own ideas of what’s best for me. I oughtta know what’ll make me happy. Doesn’t my viewpoint count for anything?
Such thinking exposes my lack of understanding, putting me on the level of a little dog in that museum living room! My world view is flawed.
No, I’d be much wiser to embrace God’s point of view as revealed in his Word, and learn about reality—the reality of his invisible, spiritual kingdom and its benefits:
His foundation of security:
His way to happiness:
His treasure of truth:
His gift of peace:
* * * * * * * * * *
Thank you, Father, for these benefits and more, lovingly bestowed as we seek to live within the spiritual reality of your kingdom. Yes, it’s invisible to our human eyes, but no less real than the wind.
And as we follow you and obey your Word, the more real your transcendent world becomes, the more wonders we experience. Help me outgrow the immaturity of illusions and embrace the truths of your reality!
(Information about New York’s Museum of Natural History room-display from Ralph Sockman’s The Higher Happiness, Abingdon Press, 1950, 14.)
Image credits: http://www.commons.wikimedia.org (2); http://www.dailyverses.net (2); http://www.universe.roboflow.com (sahal); http://www.publicdomainpictures.com; http://www.pickpik.com.
(Revised and reblogged from July 21, 2016 while we prepared for and enjoyed the 3-day visit of old friends.)
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